“We’ll Wait Till Jesus Comes.”
By L. D. SANTEN
THE other evening as I was returning home wearied with the labors of the week, I caught the sound of distant music, and by listening intently I could catch the words, “We’ll wait till Jesus comes,
And we’ll be gathered home.”
As the music came to me borne gently on the evening air, it seemed to me that I had never heard any thing more beautiful. In 1844 the Advent people were looking up and waiting for the coming of Jesus; but when the period passed without witnessing the fruition of their hopes, many, alas, laid aside the wedding garment, and in answer to the question, Watchman, what of the night? they now utter the cry of peace and safety, or like the evil servant say, My Lord delayeth his coming. Great will be their consternation when the Son of man cometh in the cloudy chariot, and finds them sleeping. Previous to 1844 the Advent body were a unit, and when asked, What of the night, would reply joyfully, The morning cometh. To them the morning of the resurrection seemed just at hand; and when they thought of the glorious appearing of Jesus, they would cry earnestly, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. But the time came, and on the tenth day of the seventh month what a host of eager expectant faces looked heavenward. The day slowly wore away; and the heavens still presented their wonted appearance. How often during that day were Bibles searched and the prophecy found in Dan. viii, 14. How often was it studied. Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. And by reckoning from established chronological dates, this prophecy can be proved beyond a doubt to end in the autumn of 1844. But the time passed and then came bitter disappointment. Those that were not grounded in the faith fell by the wayside, and many that were foremost in the Advent movement were the first to pronounce the whole thing a delusion. They had the faith, but they lacked the patience of the saints. They never thought to question the position whether the earth was the sanctuary. A few however recognized the hand of the Lord in the movement; and they commenced a closer investigation to ascertain why Christ did not come at the expected time. By careful study they learned that there is a heavenly sanctuary, the cleansing of which commenced in 1844. We are still waiting for Jesus. The signs of his coming are in the past. We shall not have much longer to wait. He has tarried long, but now very soon, he that is to come will come and will not tarry. Even now we can almost see the heavens reflecting his glory. Be not faithless but believing. Even as the dawn foretells the morning so the glory is seen that foretells the rising of the Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings. The long weary night of waiting will soon give place to a glorious morning. Brethren and sisters let us “Wait till Jesus comes; and we’ll be gathered home.” L. D. SANTEN.
Gridley, Ill.